•••••Raven's POV•••••

"What? What do you mean I still can not be discharged?"

I got so irritated by the people in this hospital. It has been a few minutes since I told them that I want to be discharged but they kept on stopping me.

"M-Ma'am Raven, please, Sir Ethan's order is to keep you here until he comes back," said the doctor who took care of me yesterday when I first arrived in here. "Sorry, Ma'am, but his orders are always absolute."

"Is that so?" I crossed my arms. I have been keeping control of my anger the past few minutes so that my eyes will not change its colors, and they will not see it. "He is your boss, is he not?"

There are two nurses and a doctor inside my hospital room and they all nodded in unison to my question.

"I am the sister of your boss. You should be listening to me also, you insolent fools!"

"M-Ma'am Ra-" I glared at the other nurse who was about to speak.

"I do not want to hear any word coming from your mouth. I am not talking to you!" I saw how the three of them flinched as I gazed the doctor back. "And you, move your ass and go to Ethan and tell him to come here right now!"

"Raven-sama, I can't talk to him right now. He's in the middle of a very important me-"

"And do you frankly think I give a shit? You know, Doctor, I am the type of a person who hates making others repeat herself." I saw with my own two eyes how the doctor gulped, and the two nurses' seeping sweats were as clear as crystal in my eyes. "Show me your name plate."

His name plate was covered by his shaking arms, so he moved it. A smirk plastered on my face as I realized who he was.

"I see, you are one of those so-called top ten doctors in the world. I saw your name on the magazine that Ethan once gave me," I said. "What made you one of those top ten doctors? How did you accomplish that?"

The two nurses behind his back exchanged nervous glances as the doctor struggled for words.

"Seriously, you can not even answer that?" I scoffed. I am pissed off. "Then, let me change the question. Are you up for it?"

I looked directly into his eyes as he was sweating and trembling even more.

"All you have to do is nod." He immadiately nodded right after I said that. "Good. You're a wealthy creature. How much is your worth?"

"M-Ma'am?" Nanlaki ang mga mata niya sa tanong ko.

Mas lalo pa siyang nanginig katulad ng dalawang nurse na nasa likod niya. I was sitting straight on my hospital bed and I clasped my hands on top of the blanket.

"How long do you intend me to wait?" They all flinched when I asked that.

Geez, they were all useless and I disdain those kinds of people. They annoy me. Their existence annoys me and I just want to get rid of them.

"Doctor, are you going to stay silent in front of me forever?" I asked again.

"T-Two billion y-yen!" he finally answered. Though, para na siyang mawawalan ng hangin any time dahil ramdam na ramdam ko ang kaba niya.

"Hmm... That is eighteen million, six hundred thousand, three hundred USD. If you convert Yen to Philippine Peso that is," I placed my point finger near my chin to think. "nine hundred twenty million, seven hundred thirthy-eight thousand, nine hundred twenty-five and sixty centavos. Wow, you are very rich."

They were all flabbergasted by my statement. After all, I did calculate that inside my mind without any calculator.

I diverted my attention to the other nurse when I just read her mind by looking at her.

Damn, dahil nabasa ko ang utak niya, galit na galit na talaga ako.

However, since I was faster than the three of them, I closed my eyes before they could see them change its colors and took a deep breath. After that, I opened my eyes as if everything was just normal.

"Yes, fortunately, I am capable of calculating that kind of amount in my mind. Can you not even do as simple thing as that?" I raised a brow at the nurse whose I mind I just read.

"I-I-I'm very s-sorry, Ma'am!" Lumuhod siya sa harapan ko kaya hindi ko maiwasang mapatawa mg mapait sa kanya.

"Che idiota." What an idiot. "Stand up now, you insolent weakling."

Dali-dali naman siyang napatayo. Muntikan pa nga siyang matumba.

"M-Ma'am, please, I made you mad, so be mad at me... J-Just leave these two nurses alone!" The doctor begged and it was even more irksome.

"Then, follow my orders and go to Ethan right now."

"B-But-"

"Your net worth is nothing compared to my family's three hundred trillion yen." I know I have issues with Ethan and my family, pero this time, inemphasize ko na talaga sila dahil sa sobrang galit ko sa tatlong walang kwentang tao na nasa harapan ko. Not just that, the surprised look on their faces did not escape my eyes. "Surely there is no need for me to convert it into USD nor Philippine Peso. You know damn well how big the value will be. You can not even recognize the numbers."

Nagbuntong-hininga ako at kinuha ang cellphone na nasa bedside table ko. I showed and waved it to them.

"Do you know what I can do with our net worth? We have a lot of connections all around the world. I can pay and order them to dispose all of your assets, and remove your name from the so-called phenomenal top ten doctors all around the world. Or maybe," I gave them all a smirk as the smell of fear and anxiety reached my nose. "I can just order them to confiscate your license, and you will never, ever become a doctor again."

Hindi ko naman talaga ugali ang manakot. However, these people and their loyalty; it lies with Ethan and they respect him on either sides. That is why, I will do everything in my power just to go things my way.

"M-My apologies, M-Ma'am. I-I will t-talk to the b-boss right n-now."

"Wish choice. Neglecting my commands would be your wildest nightmare, anyway," I said. "Well, Doctor, prove to me, the legit boss that you are worthy of your name."

Nanginginig na tango lang ang natanggap ko galing sa kaniya.

"T-Then... E-Excuse us, M-Ma'am." Even after I treated them badly, they still managed to give me a bow before leaving.

Right after they left, I was finally on my own. Somehow, nagawa kong kalmahin ang sarili ko. I got up of my bed and checked my phone. Sinet ko ang phone ko into silent mode dahil kanina pa tawag ng tawag si Maura at Blade sa akin online. Kanina pa rin sila nag-se-send ng messages sa akin pero hindi ako nag-reply.

They must have called me more than a million times in my number. But since nasa Japan ako, hindi na applicable ang sim card ko dito. I can only communicate with them through online.

I sighed heavily as I decided to call Maura first. Hinanda ko na ang sarili ko dahil alam kong isa siyang worrywart.

Nakailang ring rin ako bago may sumagot sa kabilang linya.

"Oh my God! Ikaw ba 'to, Raven?"

"Hindi, si Saldoviana. Of course, it is me, Maura. May iba pa ba?" I actually meant it as a joke.

"Oh my God! Jusko naman, Raven!Nasa'n ka ba? Ba't bigla ka na lang nawala? Raven, ba't hindi ka nagbilin kahit sulat man lang? Why? May nangyari na naman ba sa'yo? Bakit ka ba aalis ng basta-basta lang, ha?"

There she was again, asking me consecutive questions and never giving me a chance to answer.

"Maura, first of, breathe. Calm down. You are almost out of air," I said.

"Raven, pa'no ako kakalma kung-"

"My words are not worth reiterating, Maura." I heard her gasped on the other line. "Calm down and I will tell you where I am."

"O-Okay." I heard her taking a deep breath. "Sorry, Raven. I was just worried."

"Yeah, I know, and I am sorry for that." I nodded to myself and took a deep breath also. I made her worry again. I was too occupied to come in here and never thought about letting her know. "I am here in Japan right now."

Narinig ko na parang may nabasag sa kabilang linya kaya napakunot ang noo ko. Magtatanong sana ako pero naunahan niya ako.

"N-Nasa Japan ka ngayon? B-Bakit, anong ginagawa m-mo diyan?" I sat at the side of my hospital bed.

"I wanted to confirm something, Maura. I wanted to know something about my true self," I said.

"W-What do you m-mean?"

"It is hard to explain over the phone. I will tell you for real once I get back there, okay?" Out of the blue, my heart suddenly pounded so fast. "Setting that aside, what happened to Hades?"

There was a short silence. It took a few minutes before receiving another answer from her.

"H-Hindi rin namin alam. A lot has happened when you were gone. Nawala siya sa araw na umabsent ka." Nanlaki ang mga mata ko dahil sa sinabi niya. Nagsimula na ring manginig ang mga kamay ko. "We've been contacting him over and over again pero hindi namin siya ma-contact. Kahit si Sensei, worried na worried na rin sa kanya at palagi kaming pina-follow up kung sakaling na-contact na ba namin siya."

I could not bring myself to answer her. Sobrang bilis talaga ng tibok ng puso ko to the point na nahihirapan akong magsalita.

"Raven, you still t-" I diverted my attention to the door when it suddenly opened.

"Call you later."

"H-Huh? Pero-" I did not let her finish and just ended the call immediately when someone came in.

"R-Raven..."

"So, sinabihan ka na pala ng walang kwentang doktor na iyon, ha?" My forehead creased to see that he was panting and sweating heavily. "What the hell happened to you, Ethan?"

When he finally caught up to his breath, he stood straight and started talking.

"I immediately ran in here when the doctor who took care of you intervened with my meeting because you told him so." There was no sense of humor in his voice. "Siya'y puno ng takot at nataranta. Raven, ano na naman bang ginawa mo?"

"Nothing. All I did was threaten him a little. Iyon lang," I said, still clutching my phone in my hand.

"You asked him about his net worth. What does that have to do with anything?"

"Oh, that? I just wanted to see kung gaano kaliit ang worth niya." As I said that, I noticed the anger flashed in his eyes. "Besides, hindi iyan ang gusto kong pag-usapan natin. I want to be discharged right n-"

"No, resterai qui."

Napatayo ako dahil sa sinabi niya.

"Come again?" Bahagya akong lumapit sa kanya. "You know I can not say here."

"This time, susundin mo ako, Raven. You came in here kahit na pinagbawalan kita. Kaya ngayon, sasama ka na sa'kin. There's nothing you can do about it," He crossed his arms as he battled against my stares. "at hindi ka na babalik sa Pilipinas, lalong-lalo na sa Blandon High."

Kaagad na bumalik ang galit na nararamdaman ko kanina at tuloyan nang nagbago ang kulay ng mga mata ko.

"Sei assurdo? Have you lost your goddamn mind?" galit na tanong ko sa kanya.

Nasisiraan na talaga siya ng bait. Tuloyan na talaga siyang naging paranoid.

"Sono serio, Raven." I'm serious. "Hindi ko na kayang ipahamak ka, so you'll stay here with me. Delikado na sa'yo ang Blandon High ngayon."

"Don't you fucking tell me what to do, Asano!" His eyes widened in surprise. "I will get the hell out of here kahit na magkakamatayan na."

"Li-"

Hindi ko alam pero parang bigla akong nawalan ng kontrol sa sarili ko. Napakabilis ng mga pangyayari. The next thing I new, I already pinned Asano on the wall as I was choking him. I became quicker than him.

"I still have some unfinished business in Blandon High, at hinding-hindi ko iiwanan na lang 'yon sa wala," sabi ko. I clenched my other fist as I saw how he was struggling for my grasp. "Gaganti pa ako, Asano, and victory will be mine for sure. I won't let you get in my way."

Mas lalo ko pang hinigpitan ang pagkakasakal ko sa kanya kaya mas lalo pa siyang nahirapan.

"If you intervene, I will kill you. You're no exception."

Biglang nagdilim ang paningin ko matapos kong sabihin iyon. Kasunod nito ay ang pagsakit ng ulo ko kaya nabitawan ko siya. I heard and saw how he coughed and gasped for air.

However, I could barely see him anymore nang bigla akong bumagsak sa sahig.

Sobrang sakit ng ulo ko at naging blurry ang vision ko. I heard Ethan called out my name despite being hurt because of what I did. Pero hindi ko na kayang sagutin pa siya. Napasigaw ako dahil sa sakit.

Damn! Bakit biglang sumakit ang ulo ko? Is this somehow connected to my eyes?

I slowly closed my eyes as the pain became so unbearable. However, as I did that, I heard another voice calling out my name...

And I know whose voice it was.

-----

"Raven, are you awake?" Iminulat ko ang aking mga mata nang may marinig akong boses ng isang babae.

When I woke up, I saw the girl anew who looked exactly just like me. Napabangon kaagad ako nang makita ko siya ng tuloyan.

"Y-You again? Why are you h-here? Bakit ba palagi ka na lang... nasa panaginip... ko?" Nanlaki ang mga mata ko ng makita ko siya at ang paligid ko ng maayos.

Wala na ako sa loob ng ospital. Nasa isang lugar ako kung saan ang daming mga malalaking pipes and leaking waters. I looked at my feet when I realized I was not standing on a concrete floor but on a water. In other words, parang bumabaha dito sa lugar kung nasaan ako ngayon.

However, the only thing is that the water's color was red-blood red.

"Oh my, are you flabbergasted, Raven?" She smiled at me. I just realized that she was behind giant, metal bars. "Yareyare, you should get used to this, you know."

Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala sa kanya. She looked exactly just like me. The weird thing is, ang mga malalaking metal bars na nakikita ko ay para lang sa mga giant, formidable creatures.

Then, why is she trapped behind such gigantic, metal bars?

"It's because of that, of course." May tinuro siya sa taas ng bars kaya sinunod ko iyon.

I was surprised again when I saw a giant seal written in Japanese characters that seemed to be serving as the lock of the prison.

I gazed back at the girl who was behind bars. She was smiling at me and she was so calm.

"Did you just read my mind?" Her sweet smile changed into a smirk when I asked her that.

"My dear, our minds are connected. I always know what you're thinking," she paused for a moment. "and you'll also know mine."

"I can not read your mind at all." I gritted my teeth. "Just who the fuck are you, Hashira?!"

She came closer towards the bars and held it so tight. My eyes widened in surprise again when I just felt the formidable energy coming from her.

T-Too strong.

"Ochitsuku, Raven. I'm not the one that you should be worried about right now." She let go of the bars and I blanched when her expression suddenly changed. I have never felt so much fear from someone before. "Anata wa ienikaeru hitsuyō ga arimasu." You need to go home.

It was so uncanny... I can comprehend every Japanese word she says. I could not fathom what was happening. It was too hard for me to sink it all in in my mind.

"I-I know that! But Ethan is my problem. He wi-"

"Oh my, are you just going to let that fool control you and order you around?" Napatigil ako when I realized that Hashira was looking down on me. "I'll share something with you. Ethan is afraid of something. He's afraid that you might find out who you-we really are."

I averted my gaze from her. My body suddenly felt light.

"Raven, look at me." I did what I was told. "Find the master that Ethan speaks of."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko.

"Y-You... k-know?"

"Mochiron. Find him and slaughter him. That way, we'll both be free from all this mess."

She chortled behind bars and the smirked on her face was the last thing I saw before I started feeling dizzy again.

Not just that, the last thing she said echoed in my head.

"I'm sure you'll find him there. After all, she is back, and you still have a battle to win in Blandon High."